Karas science fair a success

YOUNG scientists from across the Karas Region mounted more than 80 displays at the Karas Regional Science Fair held last week at Keetmanshoop.

The participants – primary and secondary school pupils from 22 schools – were on hand to explain their work to the judges. Projects ranged from battery-powered fans to remote-controlled robots and an environmentally friendly chemistry experiment.Opening the science fair, Skorpion Zinc Mine Manager Johan Coetzee said for a country to become industrialised, science and technology through scientific research and the application of such research should be the main driver of economic development.”Should Namibia wish to attain its goal of Vision 2030 – that of being a knowledge-based industrialised nation – we need to develop our human and institutionalised resources,” he said.One of the judges, teacher Connie Williams from the Oranjemund Private School, said the fair has grown from strength to strength.”The event was a huge success.Not only has the number of entries increased, quality has also improved,” she said.However, in the same vein she expressed disquiet over the lack of maths projects entered for the fair.She implored teachers and pupils to embark on math projects.”Calling it a science fair does not mean the exclusion of maths projects,” she said.The Oranjemund Primary School came out tops after its pupils scooped nine of the 10 gold medals.The pupils who won gold awards at the fair ill be given the opportunity to take part in the national science fair.Skorpion Zinc Mine, a subsidiary of Anglo American, contributed N$26 000 for the hosting of the annual regional science fair.Projects ranged from battery-powered fans to remote-controlled robots and an environmentally friendly chemistry experiment.Opening the science fair, Skorpion Zinc Mine Manager Johan Coetzee said for a country to become industrialised, science and technology through scientific research and the application of such research should be the main driver of economic development.”Should Namibia wish to attain its goal of Vision 2030 – that of being a knowledge-based industrialised nation – we need to develop our human and institutionalised resources,” he said.One of the judges, teacher Connie Williams from the Oranjemund Private School, said the fair has grown from strength to strength.”The event was a huge success.Not only has the number of entries increased, quality has also improved,” she said.However, in the same vein she expressed disquiet over the lack of maths projects entered for the fair.She implored teachers and pupils to embark on math projects.”Calling it a science fair does not mean the exclusion of maths projects,” she said.The Oranjemund Primary School came out tops after its pupils scooped nine of the 10 gold medals.The pupils who won gold awards at the fair ill be given the opportunity to take part in the national science fair.Skorpion Zinc Mine, a subsidiary of Anglo American, contributed N$26 000 for the hosting of the annual regional science fair.